Koch-backed group urges Congress to pass "right-to-try" legislation

Jordan McLinn, 7, of Indianapolis shares a high-five with Vice President Mike Pence at his ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Feb. 7, 2017. McLinn has muscular dystrophy and he and others with serious diseases are lobbying the federal government to allow them to use experimental drugs.(Photo: White House)

WASHINGTON — Americans for Prosperity, one of the Koch brothers' main political arms, is launching a six-figure ad campaign to encourage Congress to give seriously ill patients easier access to experimental drugs — part of a larger effort to drive action in Washington.

The Koch brothers network has recently expressed frustration with what it sees as a lack of accomplishments by the GOP-controlled Congress.

Both the House and Senate have passed so-called "right-to-try" legislation, but the differences between them have to be reconciled before a final version can be sent to President Trump.

Trump's endorsement of the legislation in this year's State of the Union address is featured in the group's ad.

After sailing through the Senate in 2017, the proposal faced increased scrutiny in the House.

Opponents said the bill undermines the Food and Drug Administration's existing compassionate use program while giving false hope to dying patients.

Americans for Prosperity's Brent Gardner said the bill could help tens of thousands of terminally-ill patients who "don't have time for political games."

The group launched a digital ad campaign in January to push for the legislation.

The Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, has also advocated for "right to try" laws at the state and federal level.